Unmedicated ADHD brings heightened accident risks

On behalf of The Roberts Law Firm, P.A. posted in Car Accidents on Monday, November 20, 2017.

In North Carolina, many car accidents each year happen as a result of distracted driving. Multiple studies have shown that people who have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder are likelier to cause accidents than people who do not. A recent study showed that people who have ADHD may slash their risks of causing accidents by taking medications to control their symptoms.

According to a study of 2.3 million Americans with ADHD that was published in JAMA Psychiatry, women who take their ADHD medications are 42 percent less likely to have accidents than are women who fail to fill their prescriptions. Men who took their ADHD medications were 38 percent less likely to have accidents than were men who failed to take them. The researchers culled data from health insurance information from 2005 to 2014. They also compared the study group to a control group of people who did not have ADHD.

ADHD causes people to have problems focusing and to experience impulse-control problems. These issues may also make them more susceptible to distractions while they are driving. By taking medications as they are prescribed, people with ADHD can help to prevent car accidents that might otherwise occur.

When people are negligent and cause accidents in which others are injured, the negligent drivers may be held to be liable to pay damages in subsequent civil lawsuits. Victims of negligent drivers might want to consult with experienced personal injury lawyers about their potential claims. The attorneys may analyze what happened in order to assess the grounds for the claims. Attorneys may be able to build strong cases that prove liability for their clients, and they might secure settlements that help pay for clients' medical bills and lost work after the accident.

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